Posted on 09/12/2009 4:59:28 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
With tens of thousands of conservative protesters expected to gather in Washington on Saturday for a "Taxpayer March on D.C.," Republican officials are attempting to capitalize on a movement that lately has galvanized anti-Obama activists more effectively than the party's elected leaders in Washington.
Searching for ways to compete with Democrats after two consecutive electoral drubbings, Republicans have moved past earlier uncertainty about the protesters, who organized nationwide rallies this summer that have threatened Democratic health-care plans and eroded President Obama's standing with the public.
Several key Republican lawmakers, including House GOP Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana, have helped to drum up support for the march and are slated to deliver speeches to the crowd.
But top Republican strategists and many party observers also worry about the impact that the most extreme protesters might have on the party's image, including those who carry swastika signs or obsess over the veracity of Obama's Hawaiian birth.
Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and other Republicans, said there is an "opportunity for Republicans" to tap into legitimate fears about an overreaching federal government. But he said that "right-wing nutballs are aligning themselves with these movements" and are dominating media coverage.
"It's bad for Republicans because in the absence of any real leadership, the freaks fill the void and define the party," McKinnon said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
bttt
This should not be seen as an opportunity for Republicans. This should be seen as a threat to big government, of which both parties are guilty of.
It's pretty clear that McCain wants to accumulate and hold power that he thinks he has and not to accede that power to conservatives.
>>”It’s bad for Republicans because in the absence of any real leadership, the freaks fill the void and define the party,” McKinnon said.
I’ll finish that thought for him: “The Democrats did that from 2001 to 2006 and all it got them was total control of the US government. My boss, Senator McCain, thinks the Republicans should be the party of gracious losers.”
“in the absence of any real leadership, the freaks fill the void and define the party”
An excellent example of the pot/kettle analogy.
Guilty as charged. I am a freak whose thinking is more in lime with Madison's, Jefferson's Locke's and Sam Adams' than McKinnon's "mainstream" former boss' thinking is.
BTW, Was this story really written by Eggen and Bacon?
You couldn't possibly be more RIGHT!!!!
I'm a Conservative, I left the Republican Party in 1990 when "Read my lips, no new taxes" became a broken promise.
During the Bush Administration, the Republican's - who are supposed to be fiscally responsible - spent like drunken sailors (and that's an insult to drunken sailors!)
The Bush Administration started this bailout mess, Obama just mashed the gas pedal to the floor.
To those Republican's who think they can "use" the Tea Parties to further their own political agenda's I say this:
I'm a "Drain The Swamp" kind of guy, it's just high time we voted all these idiots out of office and replaced each and every one of them with someone who's had to balance their checkbooks and pay their bills each and every month because WE'RE the ones who understand how to budget and truly value our hard earned money.
Right now, I am for geting rid of anyone who votes for this Health care bill no matter their party.
RINO’s need to go , too.
McCain needs to sit down and shut his mouth. He doesn’t represent most Republican’s values.
There needs to be an organized national effort by the conservatives to get rid of McCain.
Of course it should...IF they represent your positions.
That's a big "If"
The Senate...not so much.
Fellow “Freaks” and “NUTBALLS”!
Political death to all RINOs and “moderates”! (Can't help it, I'm a “nutball” you know?)
Mark McKinnon needs to go back to the Dem party where he started. I am so sick of this leftwing tool being the arbitrator on the appropriate image of the Republican party.
Here’s a man who had to leave the McCain camp because he was “uncomfortable criticizing Obama.” Enough said.
Perry Bacon on C-SPAN until 9:30 AM.
Now that right there ... that’s pretty funny.
And he wonders why he is such a loser.
Its people like this who are responsible for us losing.
AMEN!!!
If they are smart they will just stay out of the way and take notes.
But they're not smart. They're part of the problem.
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